The descriptions for most of the characters come from their play bios.
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The Burger Palace Boys/T-Birds
A super-cool, DA-haired, hard-looking group of high school wheeler-dealers... or so they think.
T-Birds in general
- Adaptation Name Change: Called the Burger Palace Boys in the play but the T-Birds in the movie.
- The Alleged Car: Greased Lightning, until the end of the movie.
- Badass Biker: The T-Birds in Grease 2 all ride motorcycles.
- Bad Butt: They smoke and drink, but in general act more like arrogant bully wannabes than actual tough guys. The most violence committed is the shoving match at the dance in the first movie and the T-Birds throwing pies at the Scorpions at the carnival.
- Car Song: Greased Lightning.
- Chuck Cunningham Syndrome: None of the original group are mentioned in the second movie.
- Greaser Delinquents: It's why the movie is called Grease.
- Mooning: They bare their asses for the camera at the school dance during the Blue Moon song.
- Ret-Canon: Most recent versions of the play call them the T-Birds.
- Smoking Is Cool: They all smoke but Danny and Kenickie are seen smoking most often.
- Straw Loser: The T-Birds, despite their bravado, are really not all that cool, failing many of their classes and getting in trouble all the time. To compensate, they find even more loserish people to pick on: laughing at a clumsy jock and treating Eugene Feldsnick as their personal Butt-Monkey.
Danny Zuko
Played by: Doug Stevenson (Kingston Mines, 1971), Barry Bostwick (Broadway, 1972), John Travolta (film, 1978), Rickey Paul Goldin (Broadway revival, 1994), Max Crumm (Broadway revival, 2007) Aaron Tveit (Grease Live, 2016)
"I met a girl, crazy for me!"
Danny is the leader of the greaser boys. He is well-built, good-looking, strong and confident, with an air of cool easy-going charm.
- Distinction Without a Difference: Tells Sandy that he didn't go with Cha Cha, he went with her.
- Driving a Desk: The drag race in the remake, due to it being filmed in front of a alive studio remake.
- Fainting: The other T-Birds have to hold him up when he faints in the remake when he sees Sandy after her makeover.
- "I Want" Song: The songs, "Alone at a Drive-in Movie", and its replacement, "Sandy", tell about his desires. As well as his part in the last verse of "Summer Nights" as well - especially the line "Wonder what she's doing now".
- The Leader: Danny Zuko is the leader of the greaser boys (named "Burger Palace Boys" in the play and "T-Birds" in the movie and most adaptations following it).
- Lovable Jock: Danny becomes a jock, and remains kind and sweet towards Sandy.
- Parental Neglect: In the remake, he tells Sandy that she's lucky to have Good Parents who care about her when his don't care about anything.
- Percussive Prevention: Deliberately hits Kenickie's head with the car door in the remake to stop him racing.
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome: Danny's conventional handsomeness is emphasized by most of the cast.
- True Love is Exceptional: Danny prefers "girls who put out," only to fall for sweet and naive Sandy.
Kenickie
Played by: Bill Cervetti (Kingston Mines, 1971), Timothy Meyers (Broadway, 1972), Jeff Conaway (film, 1978), Jason Opsahl ((Broadway revival, 1994), Matthew Saldivar (Broadway revival, 2007), Carlos PenaVega (Grease Live, 2016)
"Go Greased Lightnin', you're burnin' up the quarter mile!"
Kenickie is second in command of the greaser boys. He is tough-looking, tattooed, surly and tries (rather unsuccessfully) to avoid any show of softness. He has an offbeat sense of humour.
- Adaptation Name Change: He was originally called "Miller", but after the show went to Broadway, his name was swapped out with another greaser's and it's stuck ever since (while the original Kenickie now has the Miller name when the Chicago version gets performed).
- "I Want" Song: "Greased Lightnin'" is Kenickie's solo number in the play (unlike in the film - where Danny sings it - or the live TV show - where both Kenickie and Danny sing it). The song is all about Kenickie's fantasy of modifying his car for clout, manliness, and women. This is a reflection of how cars in the 1950's played a major role in a young man's social status and sense of identity (even more than in contemporary times).
- The Lancer: To Danny; he's the second-in-command of the Burger Palace Boys/T-Birds to Danny's leader, and the male half of the Beta Couple with Rizzo.
- Papa Wolf: In the film, he acts ferociously towards Balmudo when he first insults Rizzo. The same happens later when he sees Rizzo with Balmudo at the dance.
- Took a Level in Kindness: In the live TV Show, before his race with the Scorpions, he refuses to drive because Rizzo's baby will need him in case anything goes wrong. And at the graduation carnival, he says to Rizzo that he doesn't care if it wasn't his mistake, he still wants to be there for her to raise the baby.
Doody
Played by: James Canning (Kingston Mines and Broadway, 1971-1972), Barry Pearl (film, 1978), Sam Harris (Broadway revival, 1994), Ryan Patrick Binder (Broadway revival, 2007), Jordan Fisher (Grease Live, 2016)
"What's that playin' on the radio? Why do I start swayin' to-and-fro?"
Doody is the youngest of the guys. He is small, boyish and open, with a disarming smile and a hero-worshipping attitude towards the other guys. Doody also plays the guitar.
- "I Want" Song: "Those Magic Changes" is Doody's solo. The song expresses Doody's love and passion for "Those Magic Changes", which is a nickname for the four chords progression commonly found in 1950's pop music (C, A minor, F, and G7). His character (in the play and live TV show) is mainly focused on his guitar-playing abilities.
- Race Lift: Is mixed race in the live TV show.
- The Rock Star: In the play and live TV show, Doody is frequently seen with his guitar. In the play, he precedes his song by bringing up how he has been taking lessons since the summer before the current school year. When dancing with Frenchy, he attempts to keep count (as musicians often do when they play music).
Sonny
Played by: Gerald Bolnick (Kingston Mines, 1971), Jim Borrelli (Broadway, 1972), Michael Tucci (film, 1978), Carlos Lopez (Broadway revival, 1994), José Restrepo (Broadway revival, 2007), Andrew Call (Grease Live, 2016)
"I don't take no crap from nobody."
Sonny is an Italian-looking guy, with shiny black hair and dark, oily skin. He is a braggart and wheeler-dealer who thinks he's a real lady-killer.
- Casanova Wannabe: From his introduction, Sonny clearly prides himself on being more attractive and tough than he actually is. Emphasized with the sunglasses and/or hat that the various versions of Grease have him wear.
- Cool Shades: More prominent in the 1994 Broadway revival
◊ and the◊ London◊ productions◊ - Do Not Call Me "Paul": Sonny's real name is Dominic LaTierri, but he does not like being referred to as such. Unfortunately for him, Miss Lynch does not take heed of this.
- Mama's Boy: Is often teased about his mother doing things like waking him up, and about still earning an allowance.
- Took a Level in Kindness:
- In the live TV Show, he is a lot nicer to Marty, even showing her a gift to her at prom, respecting her crush on Vince Fontaine. Finally he comforts her after she expresses sadness at being alone. This of course, earns him her love.
- In the play, after hearing about Rizzo's pregnancy, he tells her that he's there for her if she ever needs to talk to someone. She dismisses this as another one of his come-ons, but this time he actually seems genuine.
Roger/Putzie
Played by: Gary Houston (Kingston Mines, 1971), Walter Bobbie (Broadway, 1972), Kelly Ward (film, 1978), Hunter Foster (Broadway revival, 1994), Daniel Everidge (Broadway Revival, 2007), David Del Rio (Grease Live, 2016)
"I spend my days just mooning, so sad and blue..."
Roger (renamed Putzie in the film) is the anything-for-a-laugh stocky type of boy. A clown who enjoys winding people up, he is full of mischief and is always dreaming up half-baked schemes and ideas.
- Adaptation Name Change: In the movie, he is named "Putzie". His nickname "Rump" is never mentioned, as well.
- Chivalrous Pervert: He makes a lot of perverted comments in the play, and has a hobby of mooning people. Nonetheless, he quickly woos Jan and the two of them are the only romantic couple - besides Danny and Sandy - who sing a duet together.
- Embarrassing Nickname: In the play, Roger is referred to as "Rump" by his friends for being "the mooning champion of Rydell High". He takes the name as a title of pride, although Jan initially finds it embarrassing.
- Fat Comic Relief: In the stage version, his friends call him names like "Lard-ass," "Porky" and "Dumbo", obviously implying that he's fat (though he's not cast that way in the movie or in all productions), and he's the funniest of the boys.
- "I Want" Song: Roger's duet with Jan - "Mooning" - emphasizes Roger's hobby of mooning people and his desire to be with Jan. The lyrics are comical - reflecting Roger's funny prankster personality - and use various definitions of the word "mooning" to comedic effect: to wonder aimlessly, to act in a dreamily infatuated manner, and to expose one's buttocks.
- Mooning: The T-Birds nickname him "Rump" in the play because of his habit of doing this. He considers it an honour.
- Odd Name Out: Compare his name to Danny, Kenickie, Doody, and Sonny. It's the only one that's not a nickname and that doesn't end in a long "e" sound. Averted in the film with his Adaptational Name Change.
Miller
Played by: Bruce Hickey (Kingston Mines, 1971)
A young, kind of awkward and nerdier member of the Burger Palace Boys.
- Adapted Out: For budget and timing purposes, this greaser did not make the cut when the show went to Broadway. He was re-instated in the remake of the original play, though other official productions have not added him back in.
- Adaptation Name Change: He was originally named Kenickie in the Kingston Mines staging. After his name was recycled for Danny's second-in-command (originally "Miller"), the producers for the 2011 Chicago production decided to not confuse the audiences by switching the names back, so this guy was rechristened as "Miller".
The Pink Ladies
This is the club-jacketed, gum-chewing, hip-swinging girls' gang who hang around with the greaser boys.
In General
- Pinky Swear: In the remake, Frenchy makes them swear on their Pink Lady pinkies that they won't tell anyone she's going to drop out of school.
Sandy Dumbrowski/Olsson/Young
Played by: Leslie Goto (Kingston Mines, 1971), Carole Demas (Broadway, 1972), Olivia Newton-John (film, 1978), Susan Wood (Broadway revival, 1994), Laura Osnes (Broadway revival, 2007), Julianne Hough (Grease Live, 2016)
"I met a boy, cute as can be."
Sandy is Danny's love interest. She is sweet, wholesome, naïve and cute, like Sandra Dee of the Gidget movies.
- Adaptation Name Change: Sandy's surname is changed to "Olsson" in the film, and again to "Young" in Grease Live.
- Adaptational Nationality: Is American in the play but the movie mentioned she moved there from Australia to account for Olivia Newton-John's accent.
- Betty and Veronica: The sweet, innocent "Betty" to the "Veronicas" of Danny's two ex-girlfriends, Rizzo and Cha-Cha.
- Dark Reprise: In the remake, she sings dark reprises to "Summer Nights" and "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee'.
- Deadpan Snarker: She gets a good one in the TV special, when she defends Rizzo from Patty's gossiping:Sandy: I think its more important to be kind.
Patty: Hm... I'll stick with being good.
Sandy: That's easy to do when you're unappealing. - Foreign Exchange Student: She's from Australia in the movie, so that Olivia Newton-John could keep her native accent.
- The Ingenue: Though unlike most ingénues, she eventually realizes she's not happy being one.
- Innocent Soprano: Sandy is the only main soprano; the only other soprano is a bit part. She starts out a wholesome goody-two-shoes (even explicitly compared to Sandra Dee, who was typecast as The Ingenue), unlike the rest of the girl-gang Pink Ladies, who are all altos or alto/mezzos.
- "I Want" Song: "It's Raining on Prom Night" (in the play) and "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (in the film and live TV show) are both songs that Sandy sings to emphasize her conflicting emotions of love for Danny.
- Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: Light to Rizzo's Dark, until the end when she discovers her own sexy Dark Femininity.
- New Transfer Student: Transfers to Rydell at the beginning.
- Not in Kansas Anymore: In the remake, she says she has a feeling she's not in Salt Lake anymore when Frenchy tells her about the smoking Health teacher.
- Painted-On Pants: Sandy's pants in the final scene of the movie are tight.
- Tomboyness Upgrade: She goes from a sweet and naive Girly Girl to a female greaser at the end of the movie.
Betty Rizzo
Played by: Sue Williams (Kingston Mines, 1971), Adrienne Barbeau (Broadway, 1972), Stockard Channing (film, 1978), Rosie O'Donnell (Broadway revival, 1994), Jenny Powers (Broadway revival, 2007), Vanessa Hudgens (Grease Live, 2016)
"There are worse things I could do..."
She is the leader of the Pink Ladies. Rizzo, a thin Italian with unconventional good looks, is tough, sarcastic and outspoken but vulnerable.
- Alpha Bitch: Leads the Pink Ladies and is bitchy to Sandy.
- Betty and Veronica: The tough, edgy Veronica to Sandy's innocent Betty, although they're not in a love triangle. Ironically, Betty is her first name.
- Bowdlerise: The remake replaces "Fongool" with "Be cool".
- Boyish Short Hair: She's got a Ladette-ish personality and short hair to boot.
- Deadpan Snarker: She's very wry and sarcastic.
- Did You Think I Can't Feel?: In "There Are Worse Things I Could Do", she explains "I can feel and I can cry. A fact I'll bet you never knew. But to cry in front of you. That's the worst thing I could do".
- Don't You Dare Pity Me!: In the play, the other kids find out she's pregnant and offer to help her out but she reacts like this.
- Ethical Slut: She explains her outlook in the song "There Are Worse Things I Could Do":I could flirt with all the guys,
Smile at them and bat my eyes.
Press against them when we dance,
Make them think they stand a chance,
Then refuse to see it through.
That's a thing I'd never do. - Embarrassing First Name: "Betty," the quintessential name for the type of cute, wholesome '50s girl (as exemplified by Betty and Veronica) that Rizzo emphatically is not. No one gets to call her by it except Kenickie while they're having sex.
- Foreign Cuss Word: Says "Fongool" during Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee. It's an Italian swear word that roughly translates as "Fuck you".note
- "I Want" Song: "There Are Worse Things I Could Do" is Rizzo's solo song in-which she describes how society sees her as a trashy, undesirable, promiscuous female, but despite that judgment she has her own code of ethics and sticks to her guns - staying true to who she is inside.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Although she can be a jerk to her friends, Rizzo is a good person at heart. Further emphasized in the live TV Show when Sandy defends her from Patty's gossiping about her pregnancy scare."I don't need anybody to fight my battles for me, but I got to admit, that was a good one."
- The Lad-ette: She's a tough and sharp-tongued girl who robustiously smokes, drinks, and has a One of the Boys demeanor when interacting with the T-Birds. She refers to herself as a lady at one point in the film, to which a T-Bird responds, "Lady? I don't see a lady".
- Last-Name Basis: She's usually called Rizzo or Rizz. When she's making out with Kenickie in his car, she asks him to call her by her first name, but has to tell him what it is.
- Light Feminine and Dark Feminine: Dark to Sandy's Light, until the end when she helps Sandy embrace her own Dark Femininity.
- Pregnancy Scare: Thinks Kenickie got her pregnant when his condom breaks and then her period is a few days late.
- Tomboyish Name: She's a Ladette and goes by her androgynous/unfeminine-sounding last name (Rizzo) or Rizz, rather than her first name (Betty).
- Tsundere: To her boyfriend Kenickie.
Frenchy
Played by: Hedda Lubin (Kingston Mines, 1971), Marya Small (Broadway, 1972), Didi Conn (film, 1978), Jessica Stone (Broadway revival, 1994), Kirsten Wyatt (Broadway revival, 2007), Carly Rae Jepsen (Grease Live, 2016)
"Was it love at first sight?"
Frenchy is a dreamer - good-natured but dumb. She is heavily made up, fussy about her appearance, particularly her hair. She can't wait to finish high school so she can be a beautician.
- Back to School: Returns to Rydell after flunking beauty school. Returns again in Grease 2 to get her diploma and start a cosmetics company.
- Bubblegum Popping: In the film, Frenchy blows up an enormous bubble during the "Beauty School Dropout" montage. It promptly gets popped by Teen Angel's finger.
- Daddy's Girl: Tells Sandy that the only man a girl can trust is her daddy.
- "I Want" Song: Her "All I Need Is An Angel" song in the live TV show serves as Frenchy's "I Want" Song, which she lacked in the play and movie. In the song, she sings about how lost she is after having struggled with her studies as a beautician, and how she desires to have someone guide her.
- Not So Above It All: Joins along with the other Pink Ladies in "Sandra Dee" (abeit reluctantly at first)
- Rose-Haired Sweetie: Frenchy is sweet and good-natured even when she does not have pink hair.
- Spell My Name With An S: "Frenchy" is commonly misspelled as "Frenchie", such as in the end credits of the film.
Marty
Played by: Marilu Henner (Kingston Mines, 1971), Katie Hanley (Broadway, 1972), Dinah Manoff (film, 1978), Megan Mullally (Broadway revival, 1994), Robyn Hurder (Broadway revival, 2007), Keke Palmer (Grease Live, 2016)
"Freddy, my love, I miss you more than words can say..."
Marty is the 'beauty' of the Pink Ladies. She is pretty and looks older than the other girls, but betrays her real age when she opens her mouth. Marty tries to act sophisticated.
- Date Rape Averted: Caught Vince Fontaine trying to drug her drink at the dance.
- Everyone Loves Blondes: Marty, known as "the beauty", is generally played by a blonde actress.
- "I Want" Song: "Freddy, My Love" is Marty's solo number in the play and live TV show. In it, Marty makes clear that she is a gold digger who desires men for their riches.
- Girlfriend in Canada: Writes to boyfriends all over the world.
- Gold Digger: Given in the musical number "Freddy, My Love". She's more about dating guys so they'll give her expensive gifts and money, rather than actually being into them.
- Long-Distance Relationship: Is in several of these at once, mostly with military men.
- Named by the Adaptation: In the movie, her last name is "Maraschino".
- Race Lift: Is black in the live TV show.
- Summon Backup Dancers: Sometimes calls in sailors to dance during Freddy, My Love.
Jan
Played by: Sheila Ray Ceaser (Kingston Mines, 1971), Garn Stephens (Broadway, 1972), Jamie Donnelly (film, 1978), Heather Stokes (Broadway revival, 1994), Lindsay Mendez (Broadway revival, 2007), Kether Donoghue (Grease Live, 2016)
"Why must you go on mooning so all alone?"
Jan is a chubby, compulsive eater. She is loud and pushy with the girls, but shy with the boys.
- Big Eater: Jan loves to eat, and this is frequently brought up by her friends. In the play, Roger even calls her "Petunia Pig" for how much she consumes.
- Girlish Pigtails: In the movie she sports two pigtails.
- Odd Name Out: Compare her name to Sandy, Betty (Rizzo), Frenchy, and Marty. Fittingly, she's paired off with Roger, the only boy whose name doesn't end in an "e" sound either.
- Sexy Sweater Girl: Roger tells her in the 2019 UK tour that he loves staring at her when she wears tight sweaters, which she takes as a compliment.
Film-Exclusive Characters
Blanche Hodel
Played by: Dody Goodman (film, 1978), Haneefah Wood (Grease Live, 2016)
"When I hear music, I just can't make my feet behave."
Principal McGee's faithful assistant. She can be a bit lightheaded at times.
- Promoted to Love Interest: Flirts with Coach Calhoun in the remake.
- Race Lift: Black in the remake.
Mrs. Murdock
Played by: Alice Ghostley (film, 1978), Eve Plumb (Grease Live, 2016)
"How many days until Christmas vacation?"
A teacher who has a mutual friendship with the greasers.
- Cool Teacher: Accompanies the boys to their drag race.
- Wrench Wench: Helps the boys fix up Greased Lightning.
Tom Chisum
Played by: Lorenzo Lamas (film, 1978), Jon Robert Hall (Grease Live, 2016)
Tom is a jock who is fit and well-built.
- Brainless Beauty: He's handsome, sure, but he's just not that bright.
- Pair the Spares: At the end of the movie, ends up with Patty Simcox despite very little foreshadowing or build-up of this relationship.
- The Voiceless: He doesn't speak a line of dialogue. He does have one line in Grease Live, however, where he calls Sandy pretty.
Couch Calhoun
Played by: Sid Caesar (film, 1978), Wendell Pierce (Grease Live, 2016)
"When we get out there, we're gonna yank 'em and tear 'em and rip 'em! We're gonna take 'em and roll 'em around and rip 'em up to pieces! And then we're gonna slaughter 'em. And after the slaughter is over, we're gonna come back here and ring that victory bell... like we always wanted to."
A coach who is passionate about his field of study.
- Cool Old Guy: He goes to considerable lengths to help Danny find a sport that fits him, patient despite his lamentable and repeated failures.
- Promoted to Love Interest: Has some chemistry with Blanche in the remake.
- Race Lift: Is black in the live TV show.
- Rousing Speech: Gives one for the Rydell Rangers' football team.
- Sequel Hook:
Word of God says that his comments about the guys coming back to summer school were foreshadowing a sequel that never got off the ground.
Vi
Vi is a waitress at the Frosty Palace who keeps in touch with the greasers.
- Remake Cameo: Is played by Didi Conn in the remake, who played Frenchy in the originl.
- Team Mom: She frequently communicates with the greaser boys and girls, and seems to know all of them by name. She also gives advice to Frenchy about her future career.
Leo Balmudo
Played by: Dennis C. Stewart (film, 1978), Sam Clark (Grease Live, 2016)
"The rules are... there ain't no rules!"
Leo is the leader of the greasers' rival gang.
- Adaptation Name Change: His gang was renamed from the Flaming Dukes to the Scorpions in the movie.
- Badass Biker: Is head of a biker gang in Grease 2.
- Driving a Desk: During the drag race in the remake he drives a car that's obviously not moving.
- Flipping the Bird: To Vince Fontaine when he's kicked off the dance contest.
- The Ghost: His gang is only ever mentioned but not seen in the play.
- Graceful Loser: Despite losing the Thunder Road race to Danny (and having his car damaged), Leo seems relatively calm about his loss.
- The Rival: Has a gang that rivals the T-Birds.
- Sudden Name Change: His gang is renamed from the Scorpions to the Cycle Lords in Grease 2.
Other Characters
Miss Lynch/Principal McGee
Played by: Judy Brubaker (Kingston Mines, 1971), Dorothy Leon (Broadway, 1972), Eve Arden (film, 1978), Marcia Lewis (Broadway revival, 1994), Susan Blommaert (Broadway revival, 2007), Ana Gasteyer (Grease Live, 2016)
"You're just dawdling, aren't you? That's a fine way to start the new semester, Mr. LaTierri."
In the stage version, Miss Lynch is an old-maid English teacher. In the film version and Grease Live, she's the school principal instead and renamed Principal McGee, but otherwise the same character.
- Adaptation Name Change: In the movie, she is no longer an English teacher, and is referred to as "Principal McGee".
- Comically Missing the Point: In the sequel, a girl tells her that she missed two periods and Miss Lynch calmly tells her she can make them up after class.
- Death by Adaptation: In the original version of the stage play, the Framing Device is Rydell High's 10th anniversary Class of 1959 reunion, which Miss Lynch hosts with the 28-year-old Patty and Eugene. For the 2011 revival of "The Original Grease'', however, the reunion was updated to the 50th anniversary in 2009: since Miss Lynch would have obviously passed away by then, only the elderly Patty and Eugene host the reunion.
- Gratuitous French: Ends her end of year speech with "Bon voyage".
- Oh, Crap!: When she realises what the girl meant when she said she missed her periods. Complete with a "Where does the pollen go?" reprise from "Reproduction".
Eugene Florczyk/Felsnic
Played by: Steve Munro (Kingston Mines, 1971), Tom Harris (Broadway, 1972), Eddie Deezen (film, 1978), Paul Castree (Broadway revival, 1994), Jamison Scott (Broadway revival, 2007), Noah Robbins (Grease Live, 2016)
"Miss Lynch, fellow graduates, honored guests, and others. Looking over these familiar faces really takes me back to those wonderful bygone days. Days of working and playing together, days of cheering together for our athletic teams—Yay, Ringtails!—and days of worrying together when examination time rolled around."
Eugene is the class valedictorian. He is physically awkward, with weak eyes and a high-pitched voice. He's a typical 'apple-polisher' - both smug and pompous, but gullible.
- Adaptation Name Change: Eugene's surname is changed to "Felsnic" in the film.
- Butt-Monkey: The T-Birds pick on him when they get back to school after the summer.
- Chekhov's Skill: The remake has him running the school's rocket club and he later uses his knowledge to fix up Greased Lightning's engine.
- Extracurricular Enthusiast: In the remake, he runs the school's Rocket Club.
- Keep Away: The T-Birds do this with his Rocket Club poster from Eugene in the remake.
- Promoted to Love Interest: Patty for Eugene in the live TV Show.
- Team Member in the Adaptation: He gets invited to join the T-Birds in the remake after helping them win the drag race.
- Threw My Bike on the Roof: Goose takes his cello off him during the opening of Grease 2. At the end of the song, we see that it's been stuck on top of the flagpole.
- Took a Level in Badass: In the live TV Show, Eugene is shown to have a passion for rocket science, which he uses to rev up the "Greased Lightning" car, which helps the T-birds win their race. For this, Danny gives Eugene his T-bird jacket, welcoming him into the group. At the end of the show, Patty asks if she can see his rocket, and they suggestively and quickly head over to the back of the gym.
Patty Simcox
Played by: Polly Pen (Kingston Mines, 1971), Ilene Kristen (Broadway, 1972), Susan Buckner (film, 1978), Michelle Blakely (Broadway revival, 1994), Allison Fischer (Broadway revival, 2007), Elle McLemore (Grease Live, 2016)
"Hit 'em again, Rydell Ringtails..."
Patty is a typical cheerleader at a middle-class American public high school. She is an attractive, athletic, sure-of-herself type of girl who can be given to bursts of disconcerting enthusiasm. Patty can be catty, but in an All-American Girl sort of way; however, she can also twirl a baton.
- Extracurricular Enthusiast: Is cheer captain, is in a Future Homemakers of America club, does gymnastics and was nominated for student council vice president.
- Promoted to Love Interest: In the live TV show, Eugene becomes one for Patty, who at the end asks the former if he can show her his rocket, to which he says "Not here!" and they suggestively head over to the back of the gym.
- Sarcasm-Blind: Seems to think Rizzo's sincere when she says the first day of school is the greatest thrill of her life.
- Sore Loser: Can barely contain her annoyance at Sandy being a better cheerleader in the remake.
- That Didn't Happen: Says it to Eugene in the remake after she lets him put his Rocket Club on the notice board full of her "Vote Patty" posters.
Vince Fontaine
Played by: Mike O'Connor (Kingston Mines, 1971), Don Billett (Broadway, 1972), Edd Byrnes (film, 1978), Brian Bradley (Broadway revival, 1994), Jeb Brown (Broadway revival, 2007), Mario Lopez (Grease Live, 2016)
"Okay, cats! Put your mittens around your kittens, and away we go!"
Vince is a typical 'teen audience' disc jockey, who is slick, egotistical and fast-talking. He is also a veteran 'Greaser'.
- Composite Character: In some productions of Grease (such as the 2007 Broadway revival) Vince Fontaine also takes Johnny Casino's role and sings "Born to Hand Jive".
- Dirty Old Man: Tries to chat Marty up and slip her a mickey.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Seems to be based on Dick Clark who hosted American Bandstand in real life.
- Race Lift: Is played by an actor of Mexican decent in the remake.
- Slipping a Mickey: Marty catches him trying to put an aspirin in her Coke at the dance.
Johnny Casino
Played by: Bob Santelli (Kingston Mines, 1971), Alan Paul (Broadway, 1972), Johnny Contardo (film, 1978), Joe Jonas (Grease Live, 2016)note
"Before I was born late one night, my papa said everything's alright..."
A "greaser" student at Rydell who leads a rock 'n' roll band and likes to think of himself as a real rock 'n' roll idol.
- Adapted Out: From the 2007 Broadway revival, which had Vince Fontaine sing "Born to Hand-Jive" instead.
- The Cast Show Off: In the film, Sha Na Na (which played the role of Johnny Casino and the Gamblers) cover several songs from the 1950's and the original 1972 musical's soundtrack.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": Johnny Casino gets visible enraged when Miss Lynch refers to him by his real first name, "Clarence".*
Charlene "Cha-Cha" DiGregorio
Played by: Barbara Munro (Kingston Mines, 1971), Kathi Moss (Broadway, 1972), Annette Charles (film, 1978), Sandra Purpuro (Broadway revival, 1994), Natalie Hill (Broadway revival, 2007), Yvette Gonzales-Nacer (Grease Live, 2016)
"They call me Cha-Cha because I'm the best dancer at St. Bernadette's."
Cha-Cha is a blind date. In the stage version, she is slovenly, loud-mouthed and homely, but she's more attractive in the film. She takes pride in being the best dancer at 'St Bernadette's'.
- Adaptational Attractiveness: In the character bios for the musical (see the description provided for her on this page), Cha-Cha is described as being a plain, slovenly type of girl, and was originally played by plus-size actresses who were otherwise made up to look less attractive. In the film and some stagings of the musical (such as the '94 revival by Tommy Tune), she's made out to be more conventionally beautiful.
- Ascended Extra: Cha-Cha is simply a dancer invited to the school hop in the musical, and has no previous connection to Danny. Her role was expanded quite a bit in the film.
- The Rival: In the film, she is this to both Rizzo and Sandy, since Kenickie brings her to the dance-off to make Rizzo jealous, and since she's also Danny's ex-girlfriend whom he ends up dancing with and winning the contest with instead of Sandy.
Teen Angel
Played by: Mac Hamilton (Kingston Mines, 1971), Alan Paul (Broadway, 1972), Frankie Avalon (film, 1978), Billy Porter (Broadway revival, 1994), Stephen R. Buntrock (Broadway revival. 2007), Boyz II Men (Grease Live, 2016)
"Beauty school dropout, no graduation day for you..."
Teen Angel is a good-looking, falsetto-voiced, Fabian lookalike. He is a singer who would have caused girls to scream and riot back in 1958.
- And You Were There: His backup singers are played by the rest of the Pink Ladies.
- But Now I Must Go: He claims at the end of his song that he has to go to the Malt Shop in the sky.
- Decomposite Character: Replaced with a trio of singers in the remake.
- Gender Flip: Was played by Jennifer Holliday and later Darlene Love through part of the 1994 Broadway revival's run, and by Samantha Mumba in parts of the 2019 UK tour.
- Guardian Angel: He's Frenchie's guardian angel, giving her advice.
- Magical Realism: The movie's otherwise realistic besides him and the Flying Car at the end.
- Race Lift: They're black in the remake. This was also the case in the 1994 Broadway revival.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech / Pep-Talk Song: "Beauty School Dropout" is a very weird mix of the two. The Angel is basically singing to Frenchy that she would be an absolutely terrible beautician, so she better go back to high school, get her diploma and do something worthwhile with her life.
- Summon Backup Dancers: Summons angelic backup singers played by the same actresses as the other Pink Ladies.
A wop ba-ba lu-mop a wop bam boom!
